Switch mechanism



June 12, 1923.

Filed Dec. 2 1920 F. s. DENISON SWITCH MECHANISM [rzverz or fiederxk pem'son j @MJPM #15 A1. torneys June 12, 1923. 1,458,749

F. S, DENISON SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1920 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 [72 verzzor ['TPEDEE/CK 5 DEN/JON Patented June 12, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK S. DENISON, F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO MINNEAPOLIS HEAT REGULATOILCOMPANY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A. CORPORATION OF mmmsora SWITCH mnor mmsm.

A iplicationfiled December 2, 1920. Serial No. 427,851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. DENI- -soN, a citizen of the United States, resident of Minneapolis, county of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Switch Mechanism, of which the following. is a. specification.'

This invention relates to improvements in switch mechanism. This novel switch mechanism is adapted for use as a circuit-changing means. While this mechanism is susceptible of a wide variety of uses, it has been found advantageous in the refrigeration and heat-regulating art. A specific use, for example, of this invention is in connection with temperature-regulating systems wherein a thermostatically controlled electric circuit is employed to regulate the heat-generation of a furnace to start or stop an electric motor which controls parts or elements of the heatproducing medium and thereby regulates the heat output.

In the selected embodiment of the invention here disclosed, a switch is automatically operated by a secondary circuit of relatively low voltage to control the primary higher voltage or, motor circuit.

switch is operated by electromagnets, adapted upon selective energization by a circuitclosing means, to control the primary circuit.

More specifically, an armature is selectively actuated upon energization of an electromagnet in a secondary circuit through a circuit-closer and this armature not only functions to change the primary circuit, but it also functions immediately to interrupt the secondary circuit and to present another secondary circuit adapted to be closed by subsequent circuit-closer movement whereby the armature is oppositely moved to reverse the .previous primary circuit condition.

The object thereof of this invention is to provide an improved switch mechanism.

A more specific object is to provide an improved switch mechanism of the magnetically controlled type.

Other objects of the invention will more fully appear from the following description and th accompanying drawings and will beg pointe out inthe annexed claims.

In the drawings, therehas been disclosed a structure designed. to carry out the objects of the invention, but. it is to be under- Stood that the invention is not confined to This improved the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1- is a view in front elevation of the switch;

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of the same with one side plate broken away;

Figure 3 is a plan view partially in crosssection 'of the same;

Figure 4 is a detail of the armature and crank connection;

Figure 5 is a detail of one of the spring mountings;

Figure 6 is a wiring diagram of the switch installation.

In this embodiment the switch mechanism is preferably supported by a frame which comprises a pair of arched side plates 7 and 8 secured to each. other in spaced relation.

Each leg of each plate is provided with a short flange 9 adapted to rest upon or be secured to a bracket 11 carried by a panel frame 12.

Two switches are movably borne by the either electromagnet the armature is moved thereby and both switches operated. In this preferred construction the two switches are similar and the arm 13 of each see Figure 3) is fast on a shaft 14.- journale in alined apertures in the crown portions 15 and 16 of the opposed arched side plates 7 and 8. The shaft 14 has pinned thereto a hub 17 adapted to be turned by means of the armature. Preferably, this operable connection is effected by means of two adjacent flanges l9 annularly formed on the hub 17 and having a pin 21 projecting through alined holes in the flanges and extending across the annular space comprehended between the flanges. This pin 21 is received within a slot 22 (see Figure 4) presented by the arm 23 of the bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the frame by means of the pin 24. Spacing blocks 25 are also mounted on the pin 24 on either side of this lever. The other arm of this lever throughout its major portion is provided with a plurality of thin strips held to each other and to the lever arm by means of the pin 26, to form a laminated armature 27. The electromagnets are angularly U-shaped and are formed of laminated metal. The base of each electromagnet is secured between adjacent legs of the side plates and held therebetween by means of the screws 28. The polar arms 30 of the electromagnets project horizontally toward each other and are terminally spaced apart a distance sufiicient to permit the desired amplitude of movement of the armature and close enough to obtain the desired strength of the magnetic field set up by either magnet upon energization by an electric current. Coils 10 and 20 are mounted oneupon each of the lower arms of the electromagnets. These coils are adapted to be selectively and singly energized so that the armature is drawn toward the energized coils. Movement of the armature imparts torque to. the hub and shaft 14 whereby the switches are operated.

'As the structure of the switches is similar it will be necessary to describe but one.

' member is separate, being secured to the arm 13 by means of the screw-and-nut fastening 31 and insulatedi from the arm by suitable strips of insulation. The fork 32 projects beyond the end of the arm and carries the finger. This finger is composed of a forked portion 34 having apertures to receive the knife edge pivot pins 40 inwardly projecting from the fork 32, whereby it is pivotally carried by the fork 32 of the arm 13. The finger adjacent its outer end is provided with a contact portion 35 which extends across and connects the two sides of the forked ,7 portion. A resilient means such as a coil spring 33 is connected to the finger and to the fork 32 of the arm 13. This spring 33 is positioned in the space between the forked portions of the finger and switch arm and has one end secured to a pin 36 transversely carried by the fork 32 and its other end secured to the of Figure 1.

side to the other of the axis of the pivotal mounting of the finger and arm. The advantage of the spring construction resides in the fact that, for example, as the arm 13 is raised from its position shown in Figure 1, 'the contact portion of the finger re mains unchanged until the axis of the pivot pin 40 has passed through the axis of tension of the spring whereupon the finger is quickly and tensionably depfessed effecting a quick sharp break.

A plurality of contact points are carried by the frame by means of integral angular brackets 38 provided by the crown portions 15 and 1(5 of the side plates. 'l'hesecontact points are suitably connected to permit the switch mechanism to achieve its function.

The present mode of employing this novel switch mechanism is shown by the wiring diagram in Figure 6 which will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art When examined in conjunction with the other figures shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the embodiment here shown, the mechanism is adapted to be employed in connec-- tion with a thermostat so that thermal changes may effect change in an electric circuit such, for example, as to cause the starting and stopping of an electric motor 4 1.

The electric motor 41 is connected in seriesin a circuit which may be termed the primary circuit and which is formed by the wires 42 and 43 terminally connected to the feed lines 44 and 45 providing electric energy from a suitable source such, for example, as the usual 110 volt lighting circuit. The primary or motor circuit is adapted to be opened and closed by means of the primary switch 46. This is the front switch shown in the front view of the mechanism The witch 46 is, as stated, movable with the rear or secondary switch 47, being mounted on the same shaft 14 as shown in Figure 3.

The shaft 14 may be turned by armature movement through the pin-and-crank connection shown in detail in Figure 4. Movement of the armature is effected by energization of one of the opposed electromagnets 10 and 20. As here indicated, such energization may be'efi'ected by means of a circuit closer such. for example, as the usual thermost-at. This switch mechanism is so connected that. upon energization of an electromagnet and movement of armature thereto, the circuit between the thermostat and the energized elcctromagnet is immediately interruptcd and another circuit presented through the other electromagnet to be closed upon subsequent movement of the thermobar.

In order that a lower voltage may be provided for the thermo tat and electromagnet In Figures 1, 2 and 6 the connections are such that the motor is running.

by the wire 59 circuits, a transformer 48 is conveniently mounted on the panel frame 12. The main lines 44 and 45 are'connected to the primary terminals thereof while the wires 49 and 50 lead from the seeendary terminals. This arrangement is preferably 'such that a pres: sure of about 8 volts .is taken off the secondary side of the transformer. The wires 49; and 50 are connected to suitable posts 51 and 52, respectively, on the panel 53. The wire ,54 connects the post 51 and the arm 13 of the rear switch 47, thereby forming "electrical connection between one secondary terminal and the switch 47. The wire 55 connects the post 5?, and therefore the wire 50 and the other secondary terminal with the thermostat bar 56. This baris of the common type and is adapted to engage either of the contacts 57 and 58 in response to temperature changes of the place in which it is positioned. The contact 57 is connected to the panel post 60 which is connected by the wire 61 to the electromagnet coil 20. The other end of thetcoil is connected by the wire 62 to the switch con.- tact63 which is adapted to be engaged by the switclr 4,7to complete a circuit from the secondary sideof the transformer through the thermostat and coil 20. In the operative position of the parts shown in Figure 6, such contact and circuit completion has taken place due to bending of the thermostat bar 56 to engage the contact 57. The relatively lower voltage has energized the coil 20, drawn the armature 27 to the coil and thereby depressed the arm 13 of the switch whereby the contact portion 35 of the finger has been tensionably snapped from contact with the switch contact 63 to engagement with the opposed switch contact 64 of the other electromagnet coil 10. Simultaneously the arm 13 of the front or relatiyely higher voltage switch has been depressed and its contact portion .35 tensionably snapped into circuit-completing engagement witi the contact 65 so themotor 41 is started. I

When the rear switch 47 is in this posi tion shown in Figure 6, a circuit is presented which is adapted to be closed by the thermostat bar 56@ When aT temperature rise of any predetermined amount occurs, the thermostat bar 56 bends electr ically toengage the contact 58 and thusto permit electrical energy to pass from a secondary terminal of the transformer by the wire 50 to the panel post 52, wire 55 to thermostat bar 56, contact 58, wire 66. panel post 67, -wire 68, the coil 10, wire 69, contact 64, switch 47, wire .54, post 51, wire 49 to the transformer, The coil 10- is thereby energized,

the armature drawn tlfereto, front switch 46 elevated, the contact portion thereof tensionably depressed to rest upon the post which is suitably insulated from the frame,

and the moto circuit interrupted and the motor thereby stopped. Simultaneously, the rear switch similarly functions to break the circuit through the thermostat and coil 10, the switch closing on the contact 63 to present a circuit through the coil 20 to the thermostat adapted to be closed to effect opposite movement of the armature upon bending by temperature drop of the thermo' stat bar to engage electrically the contact 57.

I claim as my invention:

1. A switch mechanism including a frame, a primary switch and a secondary switch operably mounted on said frame, an armature on said frame movable to'operateboth ,switches, a primary circuit adapted to. be

controlled by said primary switch, two secondary circuits adapted selectively to be presented by said secondary switch, an electromagnet in each of said secondary circuits selectively energizable to move the armature means operable to close a secondary circuit presented thereto and thereby to move the armature, whereby said closed circuit is opened by the secondary switch and the other secondary circuit presented and the primary circuit is changed by the primary switch.

2.- The combination of a feed linecircuit, a primary circuit and secondary circuits, a motor and a primary switch in the primary circuit, a secondary switch in a secondary circuit, a shaft whereon said primary and secondary switches are mounted for simultaneous movement, means for operating said secondary switch, and means influenced by changes in temperature for controlling the operation of said secondary switch operating means. a

3. A switch mechanism including a frame, a shaft movably mounted in said frame, a primary switch and a secondary switch fast on said shaft, an armature movable to operate said shaft, a primary circuit adapted to be controlled by said primary switch, two secondary circuits adapted selectively to be presented by said secondary switch, means in each of said secondary circuits selectively in opposite directions, and circuit-closing operable to move the armature in opposite closedpresented circuit is opened and the other secondary circuit is presented by the secondary switch, and the primary circuit is changed by the primary switch.

4. A switch mechanism including a frame, a rock-shaft mounted in said frame. a pri- 1 mary switch and a' secondary switch fast on said shaft, an armature pivotally mounted on said frame, means on said armature to cause armature movement to rock said shaft, a primary circuit adapted to be controlled by said primary switch, two secondary circuits adapted selectively to be presented by said secondary switch, means in each of said secondary circuits selectively operable to move thearmature in opposite directions, and circuit-closing means operable to close a secondary circuit presented thereto, thereby to cause armature movement whereby the shaft is rocked and the closed presented circuit is opened and the other secondary circuit is presented by the secondary switch, and the primary circuit is changed by the primary switch.

5. The combination of a feed line circuit, a primary circuit and secondary circuits, a motor and a primary switch in the primary circuit, a secondary switch in a secondary circuit and fixedly connected to said primary switch, means for operating said secondary switch, and means for controlling the operation of said secondary switch operating means.

6. An electric switch mechanism including a frame, a primary switch and a secondary switch operably mounted on saidframe, an armature movably mounted on said frame to operate both switches, and electromagnets mounted on said frame and adapted upon selective energization to move the armature in different directions whereby both switches are operated.

7. An electric switch mechanism including a frame, a member movably mounted on said frame, a primary. switch and a sec ondary switch on said frame and secured to said member for operative movement, an armature movably mounted on said frame to move said member and thereby to operate said switches, and electromagnets mounted on said frame and adapted upon selective energizat-ion to move the armature in different directions whereby both switches are operated.

8. An el'etcric switch mechanism including a frame, a shaft mounted for oscillatory movement on said frame, a primary switch and a secondary switch on said frame both switches being connected to said shaft for simultaneous movement uponoscillation of said shaft, an armature movably mounted ,on said frame to oscillate said shaft thereby the frame and connected to said member co-operably to move the member, electromagnets mounted on said frame on opposite sides of the armature and adapted upon selective energization to movethe armature in opposite directions whereby the member may be selectively moved in opposite directions and both switches operated.

10. An electric switch mechanism including a frame, a rock-shaft on said frame, an arm secured to and projecting from the shaft adjacent each end thereof,a primary switch on one arm and a secondary switch on the other, an armature movably mounted on the frame and connected to said rockshaft, and electromagnets on said frame disposed on opposite sides of the armature and adapted upon selective energization to rock said shaft and operate both switches.

11. An electricswitch mechanism including a frame, a rock-shaft on said frame, an arm secured to and projecting from the shaft adjacent each end thereof, a primary switch on one arm and a secondary switch on the other, an armature pivotally mounted on the frame, an arm secured to said armature and connected to said shaft to communicate armature-movement to the shaft, and electro magnets on said frame disposed on opposite sides of the armature and adapted upon selective energization to rock said shaft and operate bothswitches.

lin witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1$" day of November, 1920.

FREDERICK S. DENISON. 

